Mercury-free light sources
Level: Core
Mercury is a toxic heavy metal found in, amongst other things, fluorescent lamps (CCFL). Avoiding the use of mercury reduces its impact on both human life and the environment.
Details
- Type:
- Technical specification
- ID:
- 10118:1
- Group:
- TV
- Swedish:
Criterion text
Televisions must contain light sources that do not contain mercury (Hg).
Verification
The supplier shall, upon request, be able to present any of for example the following:
- Valid license for any of for example the following labels:
- Nordic Swan Ecolabel for TVs and projectors, generation 5
- TCO Certified for displays, generation 9.
- Product data sheets or equivalent documentation showing that mercury is not used in any light sources. TVs with LED backlighting do not have mercury in the light sources.
Proposed follow-up
Labelling
If a supplier has used an ecolabel to prove that the requirement is met, it must be ensured that there is a valid license, certification or equivalent for the product in question. It can be checked: Nordic Swan Ecolabel or TCO Certified.
Note that the Nordic Swan Ecolabel criteria for TV and projectors will expire June 30th 2023, but the products can be marketed with the label until January 2024.
Technical documentation
If the supplier uses other technical documentation, such as for example a product datasheet, in order to verify that mercury is not used in any light sources, the documentation should be checked to verify that the requirement is fulfilled.
Information about the criterion
This requirement is met, for example, by television sets that use LED backlighting, a technology that is widely available on the market. LED light sources do not contain mercury.
Most television backlights no longer contain mercury. The RoHS Directive 2011/65/EU (RoSH stands for Restriction of Hazardous Substances) prohibits the use of hazardous substances in electrical and electronic products. Mercury is one of the substances that is prohibited. However, RoHS allows for some exceptions (Annex III to RoHS), such as light sources. It is therefore still appropriate to require that light sources must not contain mercury.
Environmental goals
Motive
The RoHs-directive limits hazardous substances in electric and electronic products such as for example mercury. There is however an exception for light sources. Light sources may contain mercury, which is very toxic and bioaccumulatingtiing. Bioaccumulating means that the substance can be taken up and accumulated in an organisam. Mercury and its compounds have negative effects on for example the nervous system and the reproductive system. Mercury can be enriched in the food chain in for example fish, People eating a lot of seafood aremay thereby be very exposed to mercury.
Versions history
The version date indicates when the sustainability criterion was created or last updated. Last reviewed dated tells when we last checked that the sustainability criterion still is relevant.
- Current ID
- 10118:1
- Version date
- 2020-04-07
- Review date
- 2023-05-02
2020-04-07, Krav ID 10118:1: The base requirement has been made more stringent and bans light sources with mercury.